It's been a few days......

It's been a few days eh? I've just been off doing other things, and/or allowing the child to use my laptop. Which I should not do. Since she started using my laptop I seem to have this bizarre redirect virus which takes every link and sends it to some cheap hack site. NOT impressed. Must clean that up.

So, tried to hang more curtains and pictures and created humonguous holes in my wall. Don't know why it snafu'd like that. Must have been the bragging I did.

Next DIY lesson - patching drywall! Very fine sandpaper is my friend. So is a good shop vac to pick up all the dry wall dust, What a mess! I see films of dry wall dust in close proximity to every hole I drilled and patched.

So the FB friends all know - I seem to have won this award from my university alumni association. I'll be going to pick it up and the Rebel wants to come with me. Hmmm hanging out with my librarian buddies has never been her cup of tea but it would appear she wants to be there. Okay. She can come. My sister in law has invited us to stay at her place. Apparently she likes me better than she likes her brother, the XSU. The only thing I have to say about that is BWA HA HA HA .

Ten days vacation starting tomorrow. August 27th. Wedding anniversary date. Would have been 27 years. WhatEver. I'll be fine. Moving right along. No grand plans for the time off. ( see above paragraph re: dry wall dust) My DIY projects are just moving right along.

NASCAR is in Montreal on Sunday. It's REALLY tempting to drive down for the day, park the car, hop the subway and get to the track. I am developing a NASCAR fixation. A serious one. Need to save my pennies and get myself to Daytona, Indianapolis, AND Taladaga and Watkins Glen again, of course.

Just finished the first Steig Larsson book, ready for book two now. Don't expect to see me here til that one's done.

NASCAR WRAP UP

I had a GREAT time in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. My goodness it's pretty down there. And the race track at Watkins Glen is surrounded by the rolling hills and lakes and some amazing wine country. The weather was perfect. Okay..... a little hot, but I plastered on the SPF 60 and didn't even turn the slightest shade of red at all.

Both races - one Saturday and one Sunday were great fun and exciting. A couple of crashes - a bunch of caution flags. Even with my not so great little Canon camera I got some good images and even video. If you're my friend on FB - turn the volume up on your speakers and you'll get an idea of how loud it is when those cars zoom zoom by. I am so hooked. I am ready to go to Montreal - for the race at the end of August. Really. That's an easy day trip too. I am going to check out the ticket prices as soon as I finish this blog entry.

I had half a mind to call RJ while at the track - she's down in Nova Scotia now with her dad - I wanted to tell her to put the phone to her dad's ear as the cars thundered by around the straight away, but figured - why rub it in. XSU would only tell me one of a couple of things: 1- what a waste of my money, and/or 2 - he'd rather watch the race on tv than live. Seriously.

I'll never forget when I was doing the divorce busting thing and working in the private sector. I managed to score some Canadiens tickets at the old Forum. This was big. Getting seats in the Forum is always next to impossible. But I got them.We took the girls and went to Montreal for the weekend after he said at least once he didn't want to go. I think Lily was on stand by for that one. I owe her a trip now I guess. Lily? Montreal at the end of August if you're not on a bike killing yourself on some trail run??? Rather than accepting the tickets and enjoying the weekend, he made sure to tell me more than once that watching the game on tv was better. What else can you do with someone like that EXCEPT leave.

All in all a good time was had by all at *The Glen.* There was even some shopping involved at the local Target store along the way home in Ithaca. Jets were in training in the next town over, so I gather American foot ball season will be starting soon. The town was all over that stuff. Meanwhile we up here in the north are about half way through football season and I am trying to score tickets to the Grey Cup game. ( yeah that should be easy)

AS we were driving home - about 4 hours or so away, I got a call from Rebel wondering when I'd get home. She was at the hospital for some annual tests and didn't have money or bus tickets to get home and of course the car her father gave her was being driven by the loser BF. AND he couldn't pick her up either because he didn't have money to pay for his cell. ANd because all her friends are total losers and she is the only one with a vehicle and license none of her friends could help her. I was really enjoying how adult she claims to be yet I get a call at least every second or third day looking for me to save her. I bite my tongue and say NOTHING about her bf or her lack for foresight. NOT saving her much any longer. NOT my problem at all.

Now... Blondie - don't forget to take a parka and boots. You're heading to Alaska. You'll need that protection from the horse and deer flies and mosquitos! And night eye mask. The sun is constant. Don't foget the shades.

Go ahead - make my day - or someone else's

Something is going on with FireFox and google on this laptop of mine. Note to self - don't let the little Rebel Junior use this thing any time again. Every time I try to get into Blogger I get bounced to other websites and I get google analytics showing up in the URL bar.
She who is technically challenged on a good day is *totally* frustrated. Can you hear the whine -
"I JUST want to post an entry on my blog. WHAT is the problem?!?!? " whine over. Where's the wine! So I switched to IE and we'll see how well this goes.

I am not really scurrying but I am loping along putting away laundry, sweeping up and running a few errands before leaving for the mini vacay to the Finger Lakes region of New York for the big race weekend.

The girls are still convinced there is a man involved. I have not dissuaded them. chuckle chuckle. ( do people still chuckle instead of LOLing?)

I have someone staying with the dog. A young woman who works for me. She brought her boyfriend over last night. OY! She's got her masters degree (of course in my line a requirement) and is 25 years old, maybe 26. Her parents are younger than me. Her bf - 21 years old. OMG!!! He's younger than Rebel, by a year!!! He grew up locally and I wonder if my daughter knows him or any of his friends. Interesting dynamics with the two of them. Young woman was so totally bossy, and almost answering questions when I directed to him. They've been dating a year now, and she seems smitten, but watching from where I sit, I'd love to talk to his parents. She's quite a spitfire and very independent. I've had to temper her a little at work, but she's doing a great job and will continue to get better. As for the BF... who knows. another chuckle. OKAY people - I need an icon for a chuckle.

Ran into a guy at work yesterday who later sent me a facebook message : "good to see you yesterday Marie, I've never seen you so excited and happy looking. Enjoy your NASCAR holiday!" Now I see this guy at meetings or in the halls once in awhile, we have those usualy work type conversations and that's about it. I've supported some of his teams but not a great deal of stuff. But what a nice way to end my day yesterday.

Send someone a nice note today - it will make their day.

Wordy Wednesday: A Heluva Story.

Wordless Wednesday is cancelled today because I just don't have access to my internet and no way to get images from point A to B. Unless Blondie inserts a very nice Ford Roush Racing NASCAR image! (-:

{as you wish. And it's even a Mustang!}

So instead I will let you in on a good one. An acquaintance of mine - the CEO of a youth at risk organisation where I sit on the board- knows Rebel quite well. The two ran into each other somewhere and Dierdra mentioned that I was going to a NASCAR race - in 9 days I might add!

Well! Rebel had a fit. She's decided there must be a man involved because no way would I ever spring to go to a NASCAR race. bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha. She said something to RJ and the two of them were grilling me over the table at dinner. It was too much fun.
"Who's the man?"
"There is no man."
"There has to be a man. Why else would YOU be going to a NASCAR race? Say pickle"
Apparently if you say the word pickle and start to smile or giggle it means you're lying. I guffawed quite loudly as I said the magic word which set the girls off even more.

Yeah.... I lied. There IS a man going. The husband of my friend, and no, there is no three way activity involved. (saving that for Rudy & Blondie and the camera) In fact, there are moments when I worry about my sanity for this trip because the friend I am going with is, to be blunt, an alcoholic. She is a wino but manages to be functional. She manages to hold down a job, but as she progresses and takes on stress - the drinking usually gets so bad she has to quit working. It hasn't happened now for about 5 years and she's almost due to crash again.

I asked her if she really thought she could do the trip and it seems she is all up for it. There are moments when she and her husband are sparring partners and then he enables her problem. However, I had a few frank words with the two of them, and I believe we have an understanding. So I will hope and pray for the best. It was her idea to start with, and I resisted, but then thought life is too short. I really think her life is going to be shortened - she's diabetic, smokes, drinks and rarely eats. This isn't a good combo.

But we are off to NASCAR and my girls are thinking I am having a dirty weekend. They are all for it and want to know 9 ways to Sunday "who" would take the likes of me to a NASCAR weekend. No doubt this is the message that will be sent to XSU. I roar in laughter, and not just your standard LOL!

The road to Watkins Glen is going to be a heluva ride!

DogUrDay kind of Day today

Can you tell I am counting down the days until I go to my first ( and probably only) NASCAR race weekend. I am totally excited. The track, the noise, the aroma of fuel, the red necks, the 6 free beers ( per day) that go with my tickets - yep but it's Coors - may as well be drinking water! It's going to be a damn fine time. I am so pumped for this event.

And then there will be the shopping in our spare time. We'll be going through Syracuse - Target heaven, AND outlet malls supreme. I thought about finding the Coach store, but these purses are so ubiquitous that I am thinking Kate Spade instead. Does she have outlet stores yet? You don't see too many Kate Spade bags in my end of the world.

So the SI joint pain has started up again. I haven't started in on physio therapy yet, but that will probably start on Monday if I can't get the pain under control. I don't have the exercise plan any longer, so for that and some acupuncture treatments - would be worth it. It's been two summers since my last bout. And I am talking about my aches and pains. Roll eyes. Totally going middle aged nuts. But it's not pleasant. I saw the doctor and got the full strength naproxin- Aleve just wasn't cutting it!

I've been enjoying the relative tranquility since Rebel moved out. RebelJunior doesn't seem to be causing too much havoc. I've got her going on a plane to visit her grandparents and XSU will pick her up there and she'll come back with him.

I am heading to a friend's for dinner this evening. She wants me to bring one of my appetizers that I only usually make at Christmas time. LOL How could I say no? It's easy and I always have these ingredients in house.

In the meantime, we've got Blondie with her Caturday posts so I thought I'd make mine a DogurDay. I know I know... doesn't quite work.